Dental clasp



March 23 1926.

1,577,831 A. LUKS DENTAL CLASP Fil ed Feb. '7, 1924 Qwmmntcw v Albert Ia,

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UETED i5 ALBERT LUKS, O1 BROOKL YE, NEW YORK.

DENTAL CLASP.

Application filed February 7, 1924. Serial No. 691,168.

To aZZ whom it may concern lie it known that I, ALBERT LUKS, residing in Brooklyn Kings County, New York, and a citizen of the United States, have invent-ed certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dental attachments for bridge work or more particularly to clasps carried at the end of the bridge work and adapted to grasp an abutting tooth, the object of the invention being to provide the inner surface otthe clasp with a flexible and friction creating substance to insure the retention of the clasp on a tooth without the aid of cements or rivets, or the inutilating of the tooth.

These and other details and objects of the invention are more fully described in the following specification, set forth in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figs. 1 and 2 show a modification of the invention.

Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, show modifications that will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Serious objections are formed to theabutinent clasps in bridge work as heretofore constructed because it must not only fit below the belly or swell ot' the tooth but be secured so that it will not work loose, and

become disengaged from the tooth. The constanttriction of the i'netal vas the clasp is removed rubs the enamel from the tooth and chips it, impairing the tooth and cansing pain under stress of the clasp, necessitatinn' an inlay or a crown to the tooth. In. rat-c that an inlay is made it is only a ques tion oi. time when the entire tooth will be incapable of having a clasp applied thereto and as it is impossible to use crowns in reniovable bridge work the latter must be dispensed with.

The drawing." show the invention and various modifications of the improved clasp on an enlarged scale as]; convenience of illustration.

In, Figs, 1 and 2 the clasp 17 is shown as having a flexible interior wall 18 and indents 19 into which the material, if applied in a molten or soft condition, will run to anchor the ilBXlblS inaterlal to the clasp. "T e fie l s mate ial 1f da k 1.11 c lor and unsightly will thus be hidden and the clasp in its natural metallic state will be visible only. I

Material that cannot be melted or softened may be secured in the clasp as shown ilTFigS. 3, 4i and 5 where one or more grooves are made within the clasp and may be dovetailed as in Figs. 3 and 4 and a strip 19 of the flexible material inserted therein and made to protrude away from the clasp. In tl 's form of clasp the flexible bearing surface may be easily removed and replaced to secure a strip of better frictional qualities to hold the clasp to the tooth. 3V here a plurality of grooves 20 are formed in the clasp each groove may be filled with a strip 21 of rubber or leather that is secured by cement,

Attaching means for frictional materials that will not adhere to metal are shown in the cross section Fig. 6 where it will be seen that studs 25 may be formed on the inner surtaceof the clasp 26 to have the material moulded and vulcanized on the same.

By using a clasp as above described, and secured to each end of a dental bridge the latter may be quickly removed for cleaning and repair and the clasp will fill its purpose without injuring or endangering the tooth.

In case that rubber is used a new coating may be vulcanized On the clasp to secure proper frictional adjustment to the clasp when the original rubber wears away or shrinks, while other material may be renewed by tearing oil the strips and replacing them withv new ones.

While the old methods of securing clasps with slots, wedges, screws, etc, are unsanitary from the liability of ,toods lodging therein, the present, invention is entirely free from those objections as the entire surface of the clasp is smooth and atlfords no opportunity for the lodging of foreign substances.

It is obvious that other modifications and arrangements may be made to the invention without departing from the essential fea tures above described or from the scope of the appended claims.

Nhat I claim as new is:

1. In a dental clasp, the combination of a clasp adapted to be carried by dental work, and a l in e ior lilliIlCr of exible and t io tional material to cover parts of the clasp adjacent a tooth and not be exposed.

2. In a dental clasp, the combination of a clasp adapted to be carried by dental Work, and an interior and unexposed lining of flexible and frictional material to engage and bear upon the tooth.

3. In a dental clasp, the combination of a clasp carried at one of dental Work, and a flexible and frictional covering to the interior face of said clasp to engage and contact with a tooth and be unexposed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature.

ALBERT LUKS. 

